lit  

Re: [LIT] lit Digest, Vol 53, Issue 4

Alison
Sun, 14 Mar 2010 07:46:03 -0700

This is such an important question that you ask, Nancy:
What do you do when the paper is still poorly written (poor grammar and spelling) even after self-editing?
I think the answer is very much tied to our own personal philosophies of what it means to teach english (reading and writing predominantly). For example, I grew up in a time when these elements of writing were the most important features. Also, my parents are British. I wrote to achieve technically perfect work. It galled me to make a spelling error and be caught on it. However, if I maintained this belief to current day, I would be asking the same question as you are. I have come to realize, after working with poor readers and writers for ages, that they all hated to write because they knew they were dreadful at it. As a teacher, I wanted them to love writing or at least not balk at it when they had to do it. It seemed the sticking piece was the spelling and grammar. When I looked more closely and talked with students about their work, I found wealth of great ideas but an inability to communicate them. Therefore, I spend time with students like this, helping them to organize their ideas.
Self-editing. This is interesting. My question to you, Nancy, is what self-editing tools do you provide as a structure with which to self- edit? Some checklists, I have noticed, are really frustrating. I have checked all my spelling. I have checked all my punctuation. Explicit work in editing is what is required, with a focus on one particular aspect at a time. If a student is a poor speller, for example, he/she needs to first accept this and then be explicitly taught ways in which to help him/herself (not by looking up words in the dictionary either!). I will say that there are a number of very famous authors out there whose spelling is dreadful but we will never know because they have an editor. These folks do not self-edit. 

Does this help?

Alison


On 13-Mar-10, at 10:00 PM, Nancy Carroll wrote:
What do you do when the paper is still poorly written (poor grammar and spelling) even after self-editing? 
-----Original Message-----
Date: Saturday, March 13, 2010 10:58:41 am
To: lit@literacyworkshop.org
From: lit-requ...@literacyworkshop.org
Subject: lit Digest, Vol 53, Issue 4

Send lit mailing list submissions to

        lit@literacyworkshop.org



To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit

        
http://mail.literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/lit_literacyworkshop.org



or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to

        lit-requ...@literacyworkshop.org



You can reach the person managing the list at

        lit-ow...@literacyworkshop.org



When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific

than "Re: Contents of lit digest..."





Today's Topics:



  1. Re: Grading writing assignments faster (ann clavin)

  2. Re: Grading writing assignments faster (Kim Wagner)

  3. Re: Grading writing assignments faster (Kim Wagner)

  4. Re: Grading writing assignments faster (Alice Cortigiano)





----------------------------------------------------------------------



Message: 1

Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:23:05 -0800 (PST)

From: ann clavin <arcpe...@yahoo.com>

To: lit@literacyworkshop.org

Subject: Re: [LIT] Grading writing assignments faster

Message-ID: <446222.52007...@web81704.mail.mud.yahoo.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Thank you Alison for sharing but can you describe the six traits in writing! 

?

?

/10, Alison <ajsc...@cogeco.ca> wrote:





From: Alison <ajsc...@cogeco.ca>

Subject: Re: [LIT] Grading writing assignments faster
To: "A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades." <lit@literacyworkshop.org > 

Date: Friday, March 12, 2010, 7:47 AM
Since we have starting using the six Traits in writing I have found grading to be MUCH easier since there is a focus for the writing in the first place.? I find teachers that slave over grading essays have not narrowed the task and are therefore grading the paper for everything.? If you are focused on particular content, tell your students that, then ONLY look at the content of the paper and IGNORE other stuff.? Other writing tasks can focus on things like spelling, grammar and organization, word choice. bu t don't overdo it.? A narrower focus for learning is much better for students.? You feedback can then be very specific to the task. 



Good luck.

Alison



On 11-Mar-10, at 6:02 PM, Nancy Carroll wrote:




Hi Everyone,
I would like to know if anyone has any proven, fun ways of making grading essays faster and less painful! Any hints? Would love to hear your tips and tricks, from veterans and new teachers alike. 






Happy Thursday!



Nancy Carroll



















_______________________________________________



The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org
To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org . 






Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive






_______________________________________________

The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org
To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org . 



Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive





------------------------------



Message: 2

Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:29:48 -0500

From: Kim Wagner <kwagner...@gmail.com>

To: "A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades."

        <lit@literacyworkshop.org>

Subject: Re: [LIT] Grading writing assignments faster

Message-ID:

        <eaa0b11e1003121729r43967f84gd1324a056c109...@mail.gmail.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Well, one thing that makes it much less painful is that the students do peer
editing and self-editing before I grade the final product. Additionally,
rubrics help alot. Narrows the focus. I agree that Six Traits also helps
because you are grading for "everything" --usually I score based on one to 

three of the traits we are working on.
Overall I would say that I quit "grading" a few years ago and now score 

holistically using the rubric.  It's tough to "let go" though.



Kim
On Fri, Mar 12, 2010 at 5:23 PM, ann clavin <arcpe...@yahoo.com> wrote: 




Thank you Alison for sharing but can you describe the six traits in



writing!











/10, Alison <ajsc...@cogeco.ca> wrote:











From: Alison <ajsc...@cogeco.ca>



Subject: Re: [LIT] Grading writing assignments faster



To: "A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades." <



lit@literacyworkshop.org>



Date: Friday, March 12, 2010, 7:47 AM
Since we have starting using the six Traits in writing I have found grading 


to be MUCH easier since there is a focus for the writing in the first
place. I find teachers that slave over grading essays have not narrowed the
task and are therefore grading the paper for everything. If you are focused 


on particular content, tell your students that, then ONLY look at the
content of the paper and IGNORE other stuff. Other writing tasks can focus
on things like spelling, grammar and organization, word choice. but don't
overdo it. A narrower focus for learning is much better for students. You 


feedback can then be very specific to the task.







Good luck.



Alison







On 11-Mar-10, at 6:02 PM, Nancy Carroll wrote:







Hi Everyone,
I would like to know if anyone has any proven, fun ways of making grading
essays faster and less painful! Any hints? Would love to hear your tips and 


tricks, from veterans and new teachers alike.







Happy Thursday!



Nancy Carroll



















_______________________________________________



The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org







To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to



http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org.







Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive











_______________________________________________



The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org







To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to



http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org.







Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive



_______________________________________________



The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org







To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to



http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org.







Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive










------------------------------



Message: 3

Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:31:07 -0500

From: Kim Wagner <kwagner...@gmail.com>

To: "A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades."

        <lit@literacyworkshop.org>

Subject: Re: [LIT] Grading writing assignments faster

Message-ID:

        <eaa0b11e1003121731t4583ba87xdb693d693ff9...@mail.gmail.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Argh...I mean a lot (not alot). And, I meant... Six Traits help because you 

are NOT grading for everything.
On Fri, Mar 12, 2010 at 8:29 PM, Kim Wagner <kwagner...@gmail.com> wrote:
Well, one thing that makes it much less painful is that the students do 


peer editing and self-editing before I grade the final product.
Additionally, rubrics help alot. Narrows the focus. I agree that Six Traits
also helps because you are grading for "everything" --usually I score based 


on one to three of the traits we are working on.
Overall I would say that I quit "grading" a few years ago and now score 


holistically using the rubric.  It's tough to "let go" though.







Kim
On Fri, Mar 12, 2010 at 5:23 PM, ann clavin <arcpe...@yahoo.com> wrote: 






Thank you Alison for sharing but can you describe the six traits in



writing!











/10, Alison <ajsc...@cogeco.ca> wrote:











From: Alison <ajsc...@cogeco.ca>



Subject: Re: [LIT] Grading writing assignments faster



To: "A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades." <



lit@literacyworkshop.org>



Date: Friday, March 12, 2010, 7:47 AM











Since we have starting using the six Traits in writing I have found
grading to be MUCH easier since there is a focus for the writing in the 


first place.  I fin



_______________________________________________
The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org
To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org . 

Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive


_______________________________________________
The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org

To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to 
http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org.

Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive